Electrically ignited gas torch



Nov. 3, 1964 E. D. wlLsoN ELECTRICALLY IGNITED @As TORCH Filed Jan. 24, 1961 ww m22.: s m

..N^.\Nn`\`s m. `W w INVENTOR. EDWARD D.W|LSON ATTORNEY S Nov. 3, 1964 E. D. wlLsoN '3,155,140

ELECTRICALLY IGNITED GAS TORCH Filed Jan. 24, 1961 4 SheebS-Sheel'l 2 INVENT EDWARD D. SON

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1964 Filed Jan. 24, 1961 E. D. WILSON ELECTRICALLY IGNITED GAS TORCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /f//yf//A n 2 IN V EN TOR.

EDWARD D. WILSON www ATTOR NEYS.

Nov. 3, 1964 E. D. w|LsoN 3,155,140

ELECTRICALLY IGNITED GAS TORCH Filed Jan. 24, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ISI |50 44 F I G.|9.

INVENTOR. EDWARD D. WILSON '\-v\\ H ATTO RNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,155,140 ELECTRICALLY IGNI'IEB GAS I'ORQH Edward D. Wilson, Rte. S, Box 356A, Salem, Greg. Filed San. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 34,613@ 7 Claims. (Cl. 158 27.4)

This invention relates to an electrically ignited gas torch and more particularly to such a torch for lead burning, brazing, soldering and the like having a selfcontained electrical unit for creating a spark for igniting the gas at the same time the valve is operated to dispense the gas.

It is an object of this invention to provide such 1a torch which is light, entirely self-contained and which operates on small, iiashlight batteries.

It is a feature of this invention that an ampliiied current of very short duration is sparked in the ignition zone by means of a switch which makes a very brief but positive contact upon closing of the trigger.

It is a further feature of this invention that a removable flame tip is employed and means `are associated with the tip for automatically sealing o the iiow of gas when the tip is loosened or removed.

rThese and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specication in which:

FIGURE l is ya side view partly in section of a torch embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view similar to FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective elevation of a sleeve hereinafter described.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is ya section taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along lthe line 8 8 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a section taken along the line 1tl 1tl of FIGURE 2.

FIG-URE ll is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIGURE 6 illustrating the positions of the trigger mechanism.

FIGURE l2 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 showing `a further position of the trigger mechanism.

FIGURE 13 is a view similiar to FIGURES 1l and l2 showing another position of the trigger mechanism.

FIGURE 14 is a wiring diagram of the electrical systern.

FIGURE 15 is a section similar to FIGURE 3 showing a modiiied form of the tip.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a member used in the modiiied form shown in FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 showing `a modified trigger form.

FIGURES 18 and 19 fare views similar to FIGURE 17 illustrating positions of the modified trigger form.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention comprises a generally cylindrical body 2li provided with a plurality of stiiening beads 2l and a cap 22. Cap 22 is provided with a pair of inwardly extending members 23 and 24 and carries a spring 25 atiixed to its inner side by a rivet 26. A hexagonal opening 27 is formed in the cap. A channel shaped member 28 is aixed to the under side lof the body by screws 29 and 30. A second cap 31 is placed in the cylindrical body Ztl as indicated and held in position therein by the screw 29. ,The cap 31 is provided with a groove 32 and a pair of contacts 33 and 34 extending therethrough. A pair of liashlight batteries 35 and 36 are mounted between the two caps 22 and 31 with their ends engaging respectively the inwardly bent ends of the spring 25 and the contacts 33 and 34. It will be noted that the batteries 35 and 36 are positioned in opposite directions so as to place the same in series. A tube 40 is provided in the body Ztl carrying an enlarged portion 41 to which is alixed a hexagonal headed threaded portion 42 forming a iitting to be connected to a source of gas under pressure. A casting 43 is provided having a portion 44 extending into the inner end of the body Ztl.

The inwardly extending portion 44 of the casting 43 is iiattened at its sides as shown at 45 and 46 (see FIG. 7) and this portion is bored to form bores 48 and 49 communicating as best shown in FIG. 10. The inner end of tube ttl is pressed into the bore 48. The bore 49 is threaded as at Sti to receive a Schrader valve 51 for controlling the low of gas therethrough. Pivotally mounted in the channel 2S by a hinge pin 52 is a trigger 53. Adjustably mounted in a threaded hole 54 in the trigger 53 is a set screw 55. A circular opening 5S is provided in the bottom of the body 2.@ and a rubber grommet 59 is seated in an enlarged portion 6) of the bore 49 and in a central opening in the grommet 59 is mounted a pin 61. The end or" the set screw S5 is aligned with the pin 61 as indicated in FIGURE 10 and can force the pin 61 inwardly upon depression of the trigger 53 to engage the pin of the Schrader valve to open the valve and permit the passage of gas through the bore 49. The rubber grommet 59 forces the retraction of the pin 61 upon release of the trigger 53 disengaging the pin of the Schrader valve to close the valve. From the bore 49 the gas passes through the connecting bore 62 into the central bore 63 of the casting 43. From the bore 63 the gas passes through a tube 64 threadedly received in a centrally threaded portion 65 of the casting 43 which portion is a continuation of the bore 63. From the tube 64 the gas passes to the torch tip 66 where it is ignited as hereinafter described. The set screw 55 is adjustable to coordinate passage of gas to the torch tip 66 and the operation of the igniting means. The tip 66 is threadedly mounted on a. sleeve 67 carried by the end of the tube 64 and an insulating sleeve 68 having an inwardly extending flange 69 is mounted within the sleeve 67. A second sleeve 71 (see FIGURE 5) also of insulating material such as plastic is seated within the sleeve 63 and this sleeve 71 at one end is provided with an inwardly extending ange 72 on which is seated one end of a coil spring 73. Mounted in the other end of the sleeve 63 between the end of the sleeve 71 and the inwardly extending flange 69 of sleeve 63 is an 0-ring 75. A groove 76 communieating with a hole 77 is formed in the sleeve 71 (see FIGURE 5). The tip 66 tapers as at 7 8 and has retained therein an insulating member 79 seated against a shoulder 3h towards the forward end oi the tip. The outer end lof the member 79 has an inwardly-formed beveled portion 31 and the interior of the member 79 is lined with a conductive material 82 such as silver terminating at the interior extreme of the beveled portion 81. The rear end o'l the member 79 is enlarged as at 83 and receives therein a plug 85. The plug 85 has a cylindrical portion S6 provided with a plurality or circumferentially spaced holes 37. A sleeve 89 is pressed into the plug S5, which sleeve has an end 96 provided with a central opening 91. A tube 92 is pressed into the sleeve 89 and in nal assembly has its inner end extending into the sleeve 68 and the sleeve 71 engaging a ball 93. As shown in FIGURE 3, when the tip 66 is in place the tube 92 by engaging the ball 93 unseats it from the Oring 75, the O ring forming a seal on the exterior of the tube 92, but if it is desired to change tips, as the tip .66 is unscrewed the tube 92 is removed with the tip, thus allowing the ball 93 to be depressed under the force of the spring 73 into sealing engagement with the O-ring 75, thus preventing the leakage of gas. A wire 1%* connects Contact 33 to tube di?, thus grounding one side of battery and a second wire 161 connects contact 34 to the primary of a coil 162. The other terminal of the primary of the coil 162 is connected by a wire lll?) to a post 1M and the secondary of the coil 1%2 is also connected to the post 1M by a wire 195. Post 164 is insulatedly mounted in a hole 1% in the portion All of casting d3 and extends therethrough and a wire 167 connects the post 1th@ to a condenser ill. The condenser ldd is grounded to the tube 4@ by a wire 195k The other terminal of the secondary of coil 1%2 is connected by a Wire 11o to an insulated Wire 111 which passes through an insulating sleeve 112 in a laterally arranged passage 113 in the casting The wire 111 is soldered to spring 73.

When the condenser is discharged as hereinafter' described, a current from the coil will pass down from the wire 111 to the spring 73 to the ball 93 to the tube 92 and thence through the plug 85 to the silver lining 82 of member 79 where at the beveled end S1 thereof the current will spark to ground, thus igniting the air and gas mixture. Air is fed to the tip de through circumferentially spaced holes 114. Pivotally mounted on the tlat side of the portion @d of casting 43 is a wheel 115 carrying three outwardly extending spaced pins 116, 117 and 11b. Pivotaily mounted on the side 115 by a pin 119 is a lever 129 having an inwardly bent portion 121. The rearward end of portion d. is relieved as at 122 to receive the inwardly bent portion 121 of lever 120 and a pin 123 is seated in a hole 124, and extends through a hole 12 in body 2i? and is engaged by the bottom of channel shaped trigger 53. The forward end of lever 120 has pivotally mounted thereon as by pin 126 a pawl 127 adapted to releasably engage pin 116 of wheel 115. A spring 123 is wound about pin 119 and has one end engaged in hole 13d in pawl 127 and has the other end engaged in a hole 131 on contact arm 132. Contact arm 132. is pivotally mounted on side 45 as by pin 133 and carries a contact 134 adapted to momentarily engage a contact 135 carried by post 194. A second spring 14@ is coiled about pin 1111 and has one end engaging pin 133 and the other end engaging pin 117. The Wheel 115 is mounted on the side 45 by a pin 142.

The operation of the last-described device is as follows:

Assuming it is desired to operate the torch, the trigger 53 is actuated thus allowing gas to flow as heretofore described. At the same time the pin 123 engaging the portion 121 of lever 120 pivots the lever 12d about the pin 119, thus causing the pawl 12"? to press downwardly upon the pin 116. This causes the pin 117 to store energy in the spring 14d. When the end of the pawl 127 disengages from the pin 116 the Wheel 115 will be rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in FGURE 11 with a very rapid motion. This causes the pin 11'7 to strike the inner end of contact arm 1321, thus forcing contact 13d to montentary Contact with the contact 135 thus charging the condenser 198. Spring 12S instantly returns contact arm 132 to normal position thereby breaking contact between contacts 134 and 135, thus causing the condenser to discharge and a spari; to ground at bevel 81 of member 79. The disengagement of the pawl 127 from the pin 116 is caused by engagement of a portion of the pawl with the pin 143. The pin 11S is provided to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 115 upon engagement of the trigger 53 so that the spring 14? in contact with pin 117 will always return the Wheel 115 to its normal position upon disengagement of the pawl 127.

The modied form of my removable tip shown in FIG- URE 15, having a body member generally designated 151), is threads-:ily connected to the sleeve o7 similar to the manner shown in the preferred embodiment, FlGURE 3. The body 156B has a discharge bore 151 in the forward end terminating at a shoulder 152. A sleeve 153 of insulating material such as ceramic is inserted in a bore 154. in the body 15d and seated against the shoulder 152.

lA member 155 composed of conductive material has an end portion 156 inserted in the sleeve 153 and a shoulder 157 abutting the end of sleeve 153. r:The sleeve 153 is longer in an axial direction than the end portion 156 thereby leaving a spark gap between the end of the conductive member 155 and the shoulder 152 for igniting the gas-air mixture as previously described. The member 155 has a cylindrical end portion 158 provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 159 for admitting air to mix with the gas, and a bore 161i to allow passage of the air-gas mixture to the discharge bore 151. 'The element 161 (shown in FIGURE i6) is inserted into member 155 and has a central bore 162 which reduces to an opening 153 at one end 164 communicating the bore 160 and holes 159 oi member 155. The other end 165 of element 151 is provided with a plurality of slots 166 to admit gas to the bore 162 while engaging the ball 93. The outer surface 167 of element 151 engages the O-ring 75 to prevent gas leakage. A washer 168 abuts the end of member 155 and is provided with an internal bore 169 receiving the element 161. The washer 168 is composed of an insulating material such as ceramic and is secured within the body 15) by any convenient means such as epoxy glue 17). The washer 16S serves to center and secure the member 155 and the element 161 in the body 15). The body 15d is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes 171 to admit air for mixing with the gas.

The modiied form of my trigger assembly shown in FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 provides a means for locking the trigger in place while operating (FIGURE 19) or a safety lock to prevent unintentional discharge of gas or ignition (FlGURE 18). The trigger 18) is substantially the same as trigger 53 of the preferred embodiment except that a notch 181 is provided in the end thereof. A slot 182 is provided in the channel-shaped member 28. A stop member 183 having a nose piece 184 is secured to a thumb button 185 by threaded screw 18d in a manner to allow lateral movement of both member 183 and button 185 in the slot 182 as desired.

While there has been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and alterations as come within the true spirit and scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrically ignited gas torch the combination of: a body having means for connection to a source of inlammable gas under pressure, a llame tip removably connected to said body, said body having passageways for conducting the gas from said means for connection to said llame tip, a valve associated with one of said passageway/s for controlling the ow of gas to said flame tip, electrical means positioned in said body for generating an electrical potential relative to said body, a trigger having means for actuating said valve and said electrical means to open said valve upon generation of the electrical potential, said flame tip having an electrically conductive housing removably connected to said body and an annular electrically conductive means positioned in and insulated from said housing, said annular electrically conductive means having one portion closely spaced from said housing forming a spark gap, means for conducting the generated electrical potential to said annular conductive means, and means for directing the gas through the inside of said annular conductive means whereby the electrical potential is discharged across the spark gap as spark to ignite the gas.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing and said annular conductive means are provided with 5 apertures at locations between the said body and the said spark gap for allowing air from outside the ame tip to be drawn through said apertures into the interior of said annular conductive means by the passing of gas through said annular conductive means whereby a combustible mixture of gas and air is formed for ignition at said spark gaP- 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein cooperating means are provided in said body and said flame tip for preventing the ow of gas out of said body when said ame tip is disconnected from said body.

4. The combination of claim l wherein cooperating means are provided in said body and said flame tip for preventing the ow of gas out of said body when said ame tip is disconnected from said body comprising a ball moveably positioned in said body, an O-ring axially aligned with said ball and mounted in said body, said 0- ring having an inside diameter smaller than said ball, biasing means mounted in said body for urging said ball into sealing engagement with said O-ring, a tubular member mounted in said flame tip having an internal passageway in communication with the said inside of said annular conductive means, said tubular member having a projecting end adapted to engage and move said ball away from sealing engagement with said O-ring upon connection of said iame tip to said body, said projecting end having a CJI cylindrical outer surface for sealing engagement with the inside diameter of said O-ring, and said projecting end having means for permitting the gas to ow into said internal passageway from outside said projecting end.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said coil spring, ball, and tubular member are electrically conductive and comprise said means for conducting the generated electrical potential to said annular conductive means, said coil spring being electrically connected to said electrical means, and said tubular member being electrically connected to said annular conductive means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein a tubular insulating member is provided and said annular conductive means is comprised of a conductive material red onto the inner surface of said tubular insulating member.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said annular conductive means is comprised of an electrically conductive sleeve having an electrically insulative bushing secured thereto for separating said sleeve from the said housing.

Reerences Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,545,438 Stumbock Mar. 20, 1951 2,616,017 Anderson Oct. 28, 1952 2,732,697 Peterson et al. Jan. 3l, 1956 2,888,066 Wilson May 26, 1959 

1. IN AN ELECTRICALLY IGNITED GAS TORCH THE COMBINATION OF: A BODY HAVING MEANS FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF INFLAMMABLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE, A FLAME TIP REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING PASSAGEWAYS FOR CONDUCTING THE GAS FROM SAID MEANS FOR CONNECTION TO SAID FLAME TIP, A VALVE ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF GAS TO SAID FLAME TIP, ELECTRICAL MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID BODY FOR GENERATING AN ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, A TRIGGER HAVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE AND SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS TO OPEN SAID VALVE UPON GENERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL, SAID FLAME TIP HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE HOUSING REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY AND AN ANNULAR ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS POSITIONED IN AND INSULATED FROM SAID HOUSING, SAID ANNULAR ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS HAVING ONE PORTION CLOSELY SPACED FROM SAID HOUSING FORMING A SPARK GAP, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING THE GENERATED ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL TO SAID ANNULAR CONDUCTIVE MEANS, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE GAS THROUGH THE INSIDE OF SAID ANNULAR CONDUCTIVE MEANS WHEREBY THE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL IS DISCHARGED ACROSS THE SPARK GAP AS SPARK TO IGNITE THE GAS. 